Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida, 15-0 with 5 TKO’s (6’1” 205) vs. Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro, 2-0 with 2 TKO’s (6’0” 205)The current #1 LHW in the world and almost unanimously Top 4 P4P fighter Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida squares off against the first man to ever submit Jeff Monson, Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro. This is Machida’s sternest test on the mat, against arguably the best mat tactician in MMA, as Ribeiro is a 2 time Absolute division World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, 4 time HW division World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, ADCC Submission World Champion, 6 time Pan American BJJ Champion, 3 time Grapplers Quest Champion, and 2 time World Cup Champion.

Thoughts: Vegas odds have this section of the tourney pegged for Lyoto Machida and Randy Couture to square off in a match to decide who makes it to the Final 4. This is a matchup that Couture has spoke publicly about wanting, and we’ll have to see the gameplan he can employ against the elusive Machida.

Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, 21-7 with 13 TKO’s (6’2” 205) vs. Kazushi “The Gracie Hunter” Sakuraba, 24-12 with 17 Submissions (6’0” 190)UFC Hall-of-Famer and top LHW in UFC history, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell is set to take on Kazushi “The Gracie Hunter” Sakuraba in a battle of 2 of MMA’s most respected and talented fighters in the short history of the sport. Logic tells us that if Chuck can keep it standing it will be a short night for Sakuraba, but if this fight plays out on the mat, Sakuraba may just take an arm home with him.

Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort, 18-8 with 12 TKO’s (6’0” 205) vs. Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva, 32-10 with 23 TKO’s (5’11” 205)Fresh off a destruction of Matt “The Law” Lindland, former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort faces the 2001-2007 PRIDE MW Champion and one of the top fighters in the history of the sport, Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva. This is a rematch from 11 years ago when Vitor stopped Wanderlei with a flurry of strikes at UFC: Ultimate Brazil. Wanderlei has stated this is the fight he wants to avenge the most.

Thoughts: Vegas odds have Liddell being able to avoid the ground game and get the TKO win over Sakuraba, but beyond that it is anyone’s guess. Wanderlei could have the opportunity to avenge losses to Belfort and Liddell in consecutive fights, or Belfort could go on to face “The Iceman”. One thing that the betting odds have told us though is to never count out the underdog, as Sakuraba just might find his way through this stacked bracket.

Quenton “Rampage” Jackson, 30-7 with 14 TKO’s (6’1” 205) vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, 7-2 with 6 TKO’s (6’2” 205)Quenton “Rampage” Jackson, the #1 contender to Lyoto Machida’s UFC LHW title, and #2 LHW in the world leads off the second half off the bracket facing off against Machida stablemate Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. There is no doubt that if Rampage gets past Feijao and meets Machida in the finals, Machida just might have that much more motivation if Rampage takes out his training partner. Don’t count out Feijao though as he has shown to have the KO power to compete with anyone in the 205 pound division.

”King Mo” Muhammed Lawal, 4-0 with 3 TKO’s (5’11” 205) vs. Matt “The Law” Lindland, 21-6 with 7 Submissions (6’0” 190)NCAA Division II wrestling champion, and Division I All-American with Oklahoma State, “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal will take on 2000 Greco Roman Wrestling Silver Medalist Olympian Matt “The Law” Lindland. This matchup is the classic young stud versus the veteran fighter, and appears to be set to be won by the man who’s wrestling can control or nullify the others’. Lawal has shown to be the more explosive of the two.

Thoughts: Vegas odds have Rampage taking out Feijao with relative ease and Lindland as a slight favorite against King Mo. This could however be a perfect set up for the verbal war that has been going on between Rampage and King Mo, with that matchup being the determination needed to put on a stellar winning performance against Lindland.

Forrest Griffin, 16-5 with 7 Submissions (6’3” 205) vs. “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz, 15-6 with 8 TKO’s (6’2” 205)Former UFC LHW Champ vs. Former UFC LHW Champ as Forrest Griffin gets his rematch against “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz. The 2 fought to a Split Decision at UFC 59 where Tito dominated the early going and Forrest weathered the storm and came back with a strong finish. Over the past 3 years, Forrest has gone on to UFC gold whereas Tito has been sitting on the sidelines. Time will tell if that ring rust will play a factor in Griffin/Ortiz part 2.

Renato “Babalu” Sobral, 35-8 with 18 Submissions (6’1” 205) vs. Luis Arthur “Banha” Cane, 10-1 with 8 TKO’s (6’2” 205)Current Strikeforce LHW Champion and Wrestling/BJJ specialist Renato “Babalu” Sobral will take on Luis Arthur “Banha” Cane in the final fight of the first round. Cane’s striking has shown to be elite in the LWH division in the same way Babalu’s grappling has made him a household name. Whichever man can control the fight looks to be a lock for the win.

Thoughts; Vegas odds have it about even money as “Babalu” is a slight favorite over Luis “Banha” Cane. Forrest is a a slight favorite against Ortiz as well. While Forrest has been busy claiming UFC gold the past 3 years since their first match, Ortiz has been sitting on the sidelines. How will that cage rust affect his performance?